Adelaide Festivals

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for the Arts. Now that another festival season has come to an end, what are the initial outcomes from the Adelaide Festival of Arts and the Adelaide Fringe?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:02): I thank the member for Reynell; she is an avid supporter of both the Fringe and the Festival. It is wonderful to see her enjoying the last few weeks in Adelaide. The Adelaide Festival of Arts and Fringe have, sadly, wrapped up for 2015, and what an incredible year it has been for both festivals. The Adelaide Festival exceeded 560,000 attendances, the highest number in five years, and early indications suggest Fringe tickets are up by 20 per cent compared to just last year with around 536,000 tickets sold.

The Fringe also attracted 90 interstate and overseas producers through the Honey Pot program, which creates opportunities for Adelaide Fringe works to tour other festivals and events around the world. During the Fringe, I met with a delegation of 10 Chinese artistic directors who are keen to explore ways that Chinese artists and the Fringe can develop closer relations. Our Adelaide Fringe also continues to be one of the best fringes in the world, and I was pleased to welcome Edinburgh Fringe Director Kath Mainland and the Prague Fringe Director Steve Gove, who year after year have made the trek to Adelaide to see what we have to offer.

None of this year's Fringe success would have been possible without the hard work, vision and dedication of Greg Clarke. Greg encouraged us to experience something different, and I know that his heart and soul and even his clothes went into delivering what was the biggest and best Fringe we have seen. Can I thank Greg for his five years as Fringe director and wish him the best with his future endeavours. I would also like to welcome Heather Croall who, after a ceremonial Fringe suit handover (which I wish I hadn't seen but I will go into that another time), is taking up the role of Fringe director for 2016-18. I am sure that Heather will build on Greg's success and I look forward to seeing what she has in store.

Our premier festival, the Adelaide Festival, had 22 Australian premieres and 26 events exclusive to Adelaide, attracting a large interstate and international audience. I am looking forward to reporting these figures, as well as those of the Fringe, once they are formally collated.

I would like to recognise David Sefton, whose artistic vision came to life over the 17 days and nights, as well as the chief executive, Karen Bryant, who worked hard to ensure that the Festival was a success. The Pay What You Can scheme, as well as the large selection of free Writers' Week and Festival events, made the Festival accessible for pensioners, low income families and students.

Finally, the Fringe and Festival would not be possible without the hard work of thousands of venue operators, staff and volunteers, and, of course, the boards, and I would like to thank everyone who worked tirelessly to make this year's Festival such an incredible success.